4th Jun 2026 07:58
(Alliance News) - CMC Markets reports higher annual profit and lifts its dividend, Hg plans to increase its stake in HgCapital Trust, and S4 Capital unveils a new dividend policy while reiterating guidance.
Here is what you need to know before the London market open:
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MARKETS
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FTSE 100: called down 0.4% at 10,296.2
GBP: lower at USD1.3427 (USD1.3435 at previous London equities close)
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BROKER RATINGS
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RBC cuts Endeavour Mining price target to 5,100 (6,000) pence - 'outperform'
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Deutsche Bank Research raises Anglo American price target to 4,500 (3,800) pence - 'buy'
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COMPANIES - FTSE 100
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Aberdeen Group, Computacenter and Investec have been promoted to the FTSE 100 in the latest quarterly index review, while Berkeley Group, Mondi and Rightmove will be relegated from the blue-chip benchmark. Six companies are set to join the FTSE 250, including London-based Harry Potter publisher Bloomsbury Publishing, digital infrastructure investor Cordiant Digital Infrastructure, and London-based data analytics and consultancy firm GlobalData. They will be joined by Bermuda-based investment company Hansa Investment, which is nearing completion of its merger with Ocean Wilsons Holdings, alongside London-based acquisition vehicle Rosebank Industries and space-focused investor Seraphim Space Investment Trust.
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COMPANIES - FTSE 250
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Mitie Group reports revenue for the financial year to March 31 rises 11% to GBP5.62 billion from GBP5.08 billion, while pretax profit falls to GBP123.7 million from GBP145.4 million and basic earnings per share decline to 6.6p from 8.2p due to higher exceptional items. The facilities management firm proposes a final dividend of 3.1p, up from 3.0p, taking the total dividend to 4.5p from 4.3p. Mitie says its order book grows 6% to a record GBP16.3 billion and its bidding pipeline jumps 34% to GBP31.7 billion. The company announces a GBP100 million share buyback programme for financial 2027, including the remaining GBP40 million of the GBP100 million programme launched in October 2025, of which GBP60 million has already been completed. Mitie says it enters financial 2027 with confidence in delivering its strategic plan, supported by strong demand, tightening regulation and a record order book, though it notes potential cost inflation risks from the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
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CMC Markets reports pretax profit for the year ended March 31 rises 20% to GBP101.3 million from GBP84.5 million, as net operating income increases 15% to GBP392.6 million from GBP340.1 million and Ebitda grows 14% to GBP117.8 million from GBP103.4 million. The online trading platform raises its annual dividend by 21% to 13.8p from 11.4p, including a final dividend of 8.3p. CMC says its Australian stockbroking partnerships with Westpac Banking Corp and ASB Bank are on track to launch within the next 12 months and that the new financial year has started positively, supported by continued momentum in institutional and B2B partnerships. The company expects net operating income in the year ending March 31, 2027 to rise at least 17% to between GBP460 million and GBP480 million, with operating costs of around GBP280 million.
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HgCapital Trust says its manager, Hg, intends to increase its strategic investment in the trust, raising the combined ownership of Hg partners, employees and its balance sheet to more than 15% from around 6% over the medium term through on-market share purchases. Hg says the move reflects its belief that HgCapital Trust's share price materially undervalues its portfolio and future prospects following weakness in listed software stocks. The manager also notes that partners and staff already have more than GBP600 million invested alongside HgT through Hg funds and plan a further GBP800 million commitment to newly raised funds. Hg says it remains focused on AI-driven value creation across its software portfolio, with more than 1,600 AI projects under way and around USD260 million of expected Ebitda impact.
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GCP Infrastructure Investments reports net assets of GBP828.9 million at March 31, down from GBP871.7 million a year earlier, with net asset value per share falling to 100.26p from 102.28p. The closed-ended investment company advised by Gravis Capital Management Ltd that provides exposure to UK infrastructure debt delivers a total NAV return of 2.4% in the six months to March 31 and maintains its interim dividend at 3.5p per share. Profit rises to GBP17.0 million from GBP400,000, reflecting lower unrealised portfolio losses. GCP Infra says the backdrop for the alternative income investment trust sector remains challenging, with its shares continuing to trade at a discount to NAV. The company bought back 10.2 million shares during the period for GBP7.6 million and continues to pursue asset disposals, refinancing and portfolio rebalancing while targeting a 7.0p annual dividend.
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OTHER COMPANIES
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S4 Capital says trading in the first five months of 2026 is in line with expectations despite challenging market conditions and continues to expect full-year like-for-like net revenue of GBP632 million to GBP663 million, down by a low single-digit percentage. The digital advertising group targets at least a 100 basis point improvement in like-for-like operational Ebitda margin and reiterates its year-end net debt target of GBP60 million to GBP90 million. Average net debt in the first five months falls to GBP106 million from GBP144 million a year earlier. S4 plans to introduce a 50% dividend payout policy and pay total dividends of 2.2p per share for 2026, while maintaining a capital allocation policy of dividends first, debt repurchases second and share buybacks third.
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Guardian Metal Resources says condemnation drilling at its Pilot Mountain tungsten project in Nevada has led to the discovery of the new 'Tremor Zone', a blind tungsten-skarn mineralised zone. Initial drilling intersected multiple tungsten-rich intervals, including 13.68 metres grading 0.31% WO3, while follow-up holes also encountered visible tungsten-bearing skarn. The company says the zone has so far been delineated over around 400 metres of strike length and remains open in multiple directions. Tremor will not be included in the near-complete pre-feasibility study but could feature in future development plans following further drilling.
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By Eva Castanedo, Alliance News reporter
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Related Shares:
MitieCMC MarketsAbrdnComputacenterInvestecBerkeley GroupRightmoveMondiBloomsburyCordiant Digit.GlobalDataHansa Inv.RosebankSeraphim SpaceHgCapital Trust plcGCP Infrastructure InvestmentsGuardian Metal Resources PLCS4 Cap.Endeavour MiningAnglo American